Sorry to be off topic here but since when were Mapex drums good for jazz and funk...period? They started out as a rock drum brand and that is still mainly what they are used for. They're good drums.

Anyway, I think Joey is good at what he plays. He doesn't stand out as anything special nor as bad as so many seem to think. He's just a good metal player that has had a bit too much publicity thrown his way and, of course, where there is publicity, there is criticism.

As far as his soloing goes, if he didn't play big, fast double bass ridden solos he wouldn't be a very good metal player as that is exactly what is wanted for metal drumming. He plays what the music calls for.